Radiohead performs in Toronto tonight for the first time since fatal stage collapse

At around 4 in the afternoon on Saturday, June 16, 2012, something terrible happened at Downsview Park in Toronto. A part of the stage constructed for that night’s Radiohead show gave way, plummetting to the ground and killing drum tech Scott Johnson.

He was killed by a video monitor that weighed 2,270 kg. He was 33. Three other members of the crew were hurt.

Radiohead was running late that day due to delays with the load-in. Had things gone according to plan, Radiohead was scheduled to be onstage soundchecking the moment the roof caved in.

What followed was a farcical train of investigations, 13 charges, lawsuits, countersuits, trials and, in the end, a mistrial that left everything unresolved. No one has been held responsible or accountable. An inquest is being planned, but no date has been set. (Here’s my story on the fiasco.)